Sporting briefs

Gourcuff: Bordeaux's Yoann Gourcuff may have played his last game this season as he struggles with a hamstring injury. Coach Laurent Blanc admitted the midfielder is struggling for fitness. "We cannot yet say, but what we do know for certain is he will not be there for Nice (tomorrow), and Sochaux (on Saturday) also seems difficult," Blanc said.

Xavi: Pep Guardiola will continue to play Xavi through his injury but the Barcelona boss is confident he is not risking the midfielder's World Cup chances. The 30-year-old was carrying a knock in his left leg during Saturday's win at Villarreal, sparking worries he could be ruled out of Spain's squad for South Africa. Guardiola said: "Xavi knows his body well and reckoned he was all right to turn out. Make no mistake, we both want him to be fit for the World Cup."

Benzema: Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema said he has not yet been summoned for questioning by French police investigating an under-age sex scandal. A judicial source said last month that Benzema would be questioned over allegations he had sex with a 16-year-old call-girl in 2008. "I'm not worried about this affair," Benzema, 22, said. "They haven't summoned me. I feel very at ease."

Guidolin: Francesco Guidolin, 54, will stay as coach of Parma next season despite interest from Serie A rivals Udinese. Guidolin has just led Parma to safety this season following their promotion last summer. Guidolin, asked if he would be staying on, said: "I really think so. This club has the desire to do things and fans who make you want to work."

Van Nistelrooy: Veteran striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy looks set to miss out on the World Cup finals after he was left out of the squad called up for a training camp yesterday. The 33-year-old Hamburg forward can only hope to play in his second World Cup finals if one of the strikers selected by coach Bert Van Marwijk is injured.

Dowie: Everton beat Arsenal 3-2 after extra time yesterday to win the FA Women's Cup for the first time, thanks to two goals from the niece of Hull City boss Iain Dowie. Hull were relegated from the Premier League yesterday after a 2-2 draw at Wigan. But there was some joy for the Tigers manager's family as Natasha Dowie scored twice at the City Ground hitting the winner.

Serie B: Empoli vs Brescia 1-2.

MFA Division Three: Fgura vs Mtarfa 2-1; Mdina vs Luqa 4-1.

Commonwealth Games: India's long-serving Olympic chief Suresh Kalmadi, 66, was given a government deadline to quit, prompting criticism exactly five months before the country hosts the Commonwealth Games. The sports ministry ruled that heads of the Indian Olympic Association and national sports federations cannot remain in their posts for more than 12 years or beyond the age of 70. Kalmadi has served as IOA president for 14 years.

Cycling: Levi Leipheimer won the Tour of the Gila for the second straight year as team-mate Lance Armstrong finished 17th. Leipheimer held a 59-second lead heading into the final 105.7-mile stage that began in Silver City and ended in Pinos Altos, New Mexico. He finished the stage in 10th place with the same time as Tom Danielson, who was the overall runner-up.

Basket, NBA: Kobe Bryant scored 13 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and Los Angeles Lakers beat Utah 104-99 in the opener of their NBA second round Western Conference play-off series. Spanish star Pau Gasol added 25 points and together with Bryant sparked a 15-6 run by the Lakers over the final 3:16 to bring the team victory in the best-of-seven match-up, which continues today.

Golf: Japan teenager Ryo Ishikawa was hailed yesterday after tearing up the record books once again, adding to his growing stature by carding the lowest score ever on a major tour. The 18-year-old, who has kept the men's game alive in Japan, carded a closing 58 on a par-70 course on Sunday. It saw him finish on 13-under-par 267 to win the Crowns tournament. The previous Japanese Tour record of 59 was set by Masahiro Kuramoto in 2003.

Badminton: New Zealand's US-born no.2 player has been ruled out of the Commonwealth Games after he was denied citizenship, despite living in the country for six years. Bjorn Seguin, 20, is in New Zealand on a student visa. To compete for the country, Sequin must be a New Zealand citizen, but his application has been rejected.